Olympic women's soccer: USA 1-0 North Korea - as it happened

US' forward Abby Wambach (L) celebrates with teammate midfielder Megan Rapinoe (R) after scoring during the London 2012 Olympic Games womens football match between USA and North Korea at Old Trafford in Manchester. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATESANDREW YATES/AFP/GettyImages

Final thoughts

So the tightest win yet for the US, who had to deal with a few flurries of pressure in the second half as North Korea began to commit players forward. The US had the best of the first half, and should have had more than one goal at the half, though they seemed to be playing well within themselves for much of the game.

Slight worry is their tendency to push forward in a tight game. It wasn't going to affect their qualifying top of the table, but in a knockout game there'll be moments where they need to stifle better technical sides than the North Koreans, with pressing off the ball (which they do very well) and smarter ball retention on it (not so much).

So the North Koreans depart the tournament while the Americans progress. The North Korean women have more than played their part in this tournament and I truly wish them well on their return home.

The US team will now have to wait and see who they're playing on Friday morning. I'll be with you for that, whoever it is. For now, thanks for all your tweets and emails - sorry I didn't get to use them all. Bye.

90 mins: Morgan picks up a poor clearance and Morgan's delicate cross floats just over Wambach, who hustles to get back into position as the ball comes back in. It eventually breaks to O'Hara in the corner of the box, but her shot drifts just over the far top corner of the goal.

88 mins: The US trying to just keep possession a little, but then send it forward (they just can't help themselves). Wambach gets clattered as the ball comes over the top and the US have a dangerous looking free kick - central, about 30 yards out. A huddle of US players over the ball...

86 mins: DECENT CHANCE FOR NORTH KOREA. Another warning for the US as a North Korean shot flies just over, with Solo beaten. The North Koreans seem to be gearing up for one final press on goal. They just need one...

84 mins: Now Cheney comes off for Amy Rodriguez (her third substitute appearance for these games). She's straight into play, scurrying around the midfield to press the stretched 10-woman North Korean team.

78 mins: The US holding the ball decently in the wake of that break in play, which seems to have stopped North Korea's momentum briefly. The Koreans getting impatient and snapping at the heels of the US players which will break up play more and help the Americans.

76 mins: Sauerbrunn comes in for Buehler. Replay just showed Cheney taking what looked like a sly kick off the ball by the way. Slight stoppage for an injury to a North Korean player, then we're off again with the last quarter of an hour's play.

74 mins: Getting a lot of emails about NBC showing the volleyball instead of this (the game is live on NBC Sports, but not on free streaming). Glad to have your custom, but sorry you have to deal with my frantic pecking at the keys to get your US soccer fix.

Another US attack breaks down with a free kick for North Korea, that they launch long - they're becoming more direct as the game goes on.

72 mins: Another surging North Korean attack has to be hooked clear by Lloyd as the ball goes to the back post. North Korean throw in the corner that the US do well to put pressure on and force the goal kick. There's definitely still life in this one.

70 mins: Now the US try some build up play on the edge of the box and a high hanging cross finds Wambach, whose header is too strong for Morgan at the back post. Another email, from Dylan Fischer:

"Nothing wrong with Meghan except for the sub-par crosses and sloppy covering... great player but today she seems a little off.Good for Pia to sub around though, she usually seems rather stingy with her starters. Morgan and Wambach are where it's at today... not getting much help from the midfield."

68 mins Kim Chung Sim in action again as she spreads the ball wide to Ri Ye Gyong on the left, who takes a slightly ponderous looking shot that at least forces the save from Solo. US are on their heels a little at this moment. They need some possession right now.

66 mins: US still pressing high up the field, but the North Koreans are growing in confidence and beginning to get some movement going. A tempting cross comes in towards Kim Chung Sim and Solo has to be alert to get to the ball first and safely.

62 mins: Camera cuts to Rio Ferdinand and Chicharito on the sidelines. They look glum. Can these teams cheer them up. US trying to raise the tempo with some zippy passing round the box, which doesn't come off, but at least breaks up the pattern of play a little.

North Korea only need a draw to qualify, remember, and it's still a one goal game.

60 mins: So the hour comes up with the American shutout streak at 224 minutes. At the other end O'Reilly tries to find some space, but can't find room to get a ball in to the box.

Let's make this the last word on Solo/Chastain - it's from Benjamin McKinney:

"She's just been lambasted in the American media for sure, for having the audacity to criticize a "hero of the women's game" and all that, but to be quite honest I agree with her that Brandi Chastain is a godawful commentator. One thing I'm not sure of is whether Hope is suggesting that Chastain should be more supportive in her commentary--which I would take issue with; my primary complaint about Chastain is that she spends more time fawning over the players than saying anything insightful--or that she should seek out a different role entirely and promote the women's game outside of television. If it's the latter, I'd like to assert that it could not happen soon enough. "Legends of the game" often make pretty terrible commentators, and I'm very much looking forward to the point at which the American footsoccerball media realize this and start hiring for insight rather than name-recognition."

58 mins: Mood seems to have lifted in the stadium for the minute - though not for anything that's happening on the field. Game's going through a scrappy phase. Slightly under hit back pass almost gives North Korea a sniff on goal, but Buehler hacks clear for a throw, that the US clear.

56 mins: Camera cuts to Sundhage who looks a little irritated as another US long ball is rather hurried forward with the loss of possession - the urgency should be all the North Koreans at this point. Now the US get forward again - but they seem to have lost a little focus with the departure of Rapinoe.

52 mins: Now Morgan has half a chance as the North Koreans scramble to clear their lines again. Good pressure from the US now they're settling again. They're pressing high up the pitch and getting their full backs forward in unanswered positions.

50 mins: MISSED CHANCE! Wambach carves some space on the edge of the box and feeds Morgan, who does well to divert the ball into the path of Heath on the outside. She has more time than she realizes and seems indecisive with her chip/shot that goes harmlessly over. She'd like that one back. Still 1-0 to the USA.

Social media: Keep your tweets coming in to the address at the top of the page. Here are some of your emails:

Paul Morris is on Hope Solo's case:

"Hope Solo, although an undoubtedly talented goalkeeper, doesn't seem like a very nice person. She's had some unnecessary comments for Brandi Chastain, a hero of the women's game, and previously chirped off to Briana Scurry, as well. Now we all know goalkeepers have to be a bit mad, but I didn't spot her in that bit of team-building video of 'Party In the USA'. Was she cut from the film? Did she tweet something nasty about Miley Cyrus? Did they film it the day she was chastised by the World Anti-Doping Agency?"

While in the interest of balance Roberto Alvarez-Galloso says:

"I still think Hope Solo was unjustly criticized by NBC in America."

She's a polarizing figure, our Hope. She's not had a lot to do today other than claim the occasional cross from deep, but it can be difficult for a keeper to keep her concentration in a game like this, and she's done her job well.

Don't think the US will have many complaints about that performance. The North Koreans didn't show a lot of ambition - even after they'd gone down a goal, they seemed to keep the same formation, and just pushed their wide midfielders up a little, without threatening Solo's goal.

The Americans seem happy to play the odds - they're getting plenty of opportunity to find space down the flanks to get balls in and the second-string Korean keeper O Chang Ran is looking a little shaky under pressure. You fancy them to score again, especially if the North Koreans take a chance in getting players forward.

"Firstly - I love your live blog. It is funny and informative and perfect for those of us at work who can't watch the live stream.Secondly - I am having the hardest time restraining myself from screaming and doing a jig in my cubicle every time the US scores... It's torture, really. But I'll make it.Thirdly - I am heartbroken that the Party in the USA video won't work on my phone.Fourthly - I should get back to feigning work."

44 mins: Rapinoe's long corner evades everyone - including Lloyd at the far post - and goes out for a throw. Been some decent corners though. Now Solo has to be alert to grab a deep cross - which she does well.

Now the US attack again and Morgan's twisting and turning run almost opens up some space, but she's blocked out on the edge of the box.

WAMBACH HITS THE POST!

40 mins: After some slow build up the ball suddenly breaks through for Wambach, who stretches to touch the ball off the post, before O'Reilly, following up, crashes the rebound into the side netting as the keeper recovered bravely to put her off. Still USA 1 North Korea 0 as we head towards the last five minutes.

38 mins: Getting quite a few emails in which I'll try to get to at half time.

I did promise you a diplomatic incident though. Here's Ben Heidinger:

"In regards to the "Mexican Wave" going around Old Trafford (minute 20), it should be noted that it was actually invented in the US, where it is known simply as "the Wave". And yes, this subject is unreasonably important to me."

36 mins: ...short corner breaks down but O'Reilly battles to retrieve the ball, though ultimately the move breaks down. North Korea trying to settle and pass the ball around, but for now the US pressing is prevailing.

34 mins: ...Rapinoe sends in an outswinger, that Morgan flicks on at the near post. The US fret and fuss a little around the box, then pick up another corner off a deflected Buehler shot...cleared for another...

32 mins Kim Su Gyong comes in for Yun Hyong Hi. Seems a little early for that, if she's not injured. Lloyd is bundled off the ball and the Koreans come forward - something akin to pressure from them ends with a low cross that bounces in front of Solo - who gathers safely and distributes. Morgan gallops forward and earns a corner as her cross cannons off a defender...

30 mins: What looked like more dodgy keeping as Wambach flicks a powerful header towards the bottom corner, that O Chang Ran, can only parry wide. From the corner there's some panic in the box, before the ball breaks for Cheney - but she scoops her shot over the bar. Still USA 1 North Korea 0

28 mins: Now North Korea are forced to inject some urgency and we may see a more open game. They have a throw half way into the US half down the right hand side, but Yun Hyong Hi fails to control it and the US will build again.

GOAL! USA 1 NORTH KOREA 0 (WAMBACH!)

ABBYGOL! ANother ball over the top is controlled brilliantly by Morgan, who cuts back and shapes to shoot on her left, but instead lays off the sweetest touch to Wambach, who steps past the last defender for the simplest of openers.

24 mins: North Korea playing something of a 4-5-1 and there's not much for the US to deal with - looks like the Koreans might be happy with a point. That's a dangerous tactic against the US. Wambach chests the ball and turns to try to feed Morgan, but good anticipation from the defense cuts it out. But...

22 mins: The US press again and Morgan is bundled over on the edge of the box - no foul though. North Korea try to break, but the US get it back. The Rapinoe steps forward in some space in midfield and tries a long shot - but it's up high and wide as she seems to lose control in the rain.

20 mins: Now there's a Mexican wave going around Old Trafford as the game has lost a little shape in the last few minutes. Cheney's yellow was the first for the USA in these games so far, by the way. Still USA 0 North Korea 0.

"Ooooh, I LOVE a geopolitical grudge match! "Axis of Evil" member v. self-proclaimed leader of the free world is almost as good as a colony/colonizer match in my books (Angola v. Portugal was a personal favorite in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup). Also, are there plans afoot for the GU liveblogging team to go viral with their own "dignified rendition" of "Call Me Maybe?" Unless, of course, another song would be more appropriate?"

I think I mentioned the 38th Parallel once, but I think I got away with it. The GU liveblogging team have "musical differences" sadly...

Cheney picks up a yellow after a tussle. US having the better of the early exchanges.

MORGAN HITS THE POST!

16 mins: Now North Korea try to work the ball forward and a dangerous looking cross field ball is cut out well by O'Hara. Quick throw by Rapinoe and US break at speed. Wambach cuts the ball inside for Morgan who reaches to trap the ball and spins to hit a left foot shot off the post! Beautifully taken, and the keeper was beaten - unlucky...

12 mins: Now Rampone sends a long ball wide for O'Reilly who keeps it in play to then play the ball for a throw in that the US can't do much with - but they're getting some joy early on putting that North korean back line under pressure with through balls they're struggling to clear.

10 mins: Apparently Wambach was calming her team mates down after the blow that felled her against Colombia the other day...

United States' Abby Wambach lays on the field after suffering from an injury at the hands of Colombia's Lady Andrade during the group G women's soccer match between the United States and Colombia. (AP Photo/Chris Clark)

It really looked nasty at the time and she still has a bit of a shiner. North korea get the ball upfield, but almost immediately Lloyd sends a long ball forward that Rapinoe does well to keep in play, then an O'Hara cross is met by a looping header by Morgan, that's harmlessly through to the keeper.

6 mins: Wambach charges across to challenge a defender for what should have been a routine ball as the Americans try to press.

An email from Bryan Tissinger:

"Will you be posting any "spoilers" for the Americans that have to watch the Olympics on tape delay? I have been quite successful the past couple of days avoiding results to gymnastics and swimming. If you are going to post any updates about other events, please let me know so I can do something else at work, like stare at the wall! Thanks."

Spoiler alert: Morgan just had a shot from the edge of the box palmed round the post.

2 mins: In front of the Stretford End that is... The US try to build from the back. O'Hara and Rapino interplay well and Rapinoe sprints forward into space. She fires a cross from the byline that the keeper spills for a first corner...

Brandi Chastain is the co-commentator in the NBC booth with Arlo White, and last time I checked she’s not done anything more controversial than infer that the US defense is not as strong as the attack (which it isn’t) and also that the US need to do a better job of closing down shooters in midfield (which they do). Oh and at one point she mentioned that Rachel Buehler gave away the ball (which etc.).

Solo’s reaction has caused a minor furore - not the first time the keeper’s opinions have landed her in a spot of bother. This time round it’s netted her an appearance in front of Pia Sundhage and the team captains to explain herself - though perhaps more to the point, aside from the chippy tone of her tweets (to which Chastain, to her credit, has not directly responded), there’s a fundamental point Solo seems to have missed here. The women’s game, despite it’s domestic setbacks recently, is played to a very robust standard in America and hardly in need of anodyne homer commentary to protect it as it grows.

“Some evil-minded foreign media asserted that the DPRK would take only one silver medal, but our sportspersons refuted such assertion with good results. The hostile forces had better try hard to get a correct understanding of the DPRK”

Kim Chon Sok - Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

Speaking personally, I think it’s possible Kim Chon Sok has misunderstood “evil” as “feeble”, but I am trying hard to get a correct understanding of the DPRK.

The North Koreans might be tempted to keep us waiting for a few hours before kick off - after the South Korean flag was mistakenly flown for their opening game against Colombia, they refused to come onto the pitch for an hour but then beat their rattled opponents 2-0.

In their next game against France, following rather more conventional standards of timekeeping, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-0 thumping - meaning they really need to go for a positive result against the US this afternoon and hope that the French slip up against Colombia to take one of the automatic first two group spots. Should they lose or draw, their rather iffy goal difference following that French defeat, might not be enough to get them one of the best third place finish slots in the quarter finals. So on that logic kicking off at around midnight local time, should do the job (raising the prospect of my typing out an unauthorised bio of Mia Hamm to fill the time here).

Despite that loss to the French, the Koreans do have dangerous technical players like Kim Song Hui, who scored a couple of poacher’s goals against Colombia - goals scored, it should be said, after the type of approach play the US should have a wary eye on.

They’re a decent team - 2008 Asian champions - technically well drilled, like the French - and equipped to cause the US problems. They’re also strong - hopefully legally (five of their team tested positive for steroids at the 2011 World Cup)

At the risk of irritating the social media monitors of the US team, they are a side that can be got at - as France showed in the opening game (and in their World Cup semi last year). Their eagerness to get forward can leave space between the midfield and defense and some indecision in clearing their lines, or when to close down players, has cost them - such as on France’s opener.

It should also be noted that they’ve kept their cool amid a fair amount of physical provocation, particularly in the last game against Columbia, where in the most egregious example, Abby Wambach was leveled by (she’s no) Lady Andrade with a punch off the ball. And with the referees being pretty lenient so far, they can expect more such pressure today. Not sure trying to kick the US out of a game is as effective as passing through them, mind (regardless of the ethics of it)...

Generally though, when Rapinoe, Morgan, Wambach etc are on this sort of form, you have to fancy their chances of outscoring anybody but the very best. Nonetheless they’ll want the win to secure the easier quarter final berth today, to avoid meeting one of the stronger teams from Group F (which contains Sweden and the World Champions, Japan).

Preamble

Welcome to your minute-by-minute coverage of the USA vs North Korea - now in the brand spanking new Guardian liveblogging format! Just gaze in awe at all that wide open space and those generous margins! Swoon at the extra pixel space afforded to obscure goal celebrations! Wince at the prose equivalent of the lumpen long ball, as it limps into view behind all this technical wonder...

It is nice though, isn't it?

And as befits such a prestigious blogging venue, we're at one of the grand stages of the global game today to watch the USA women's team take on North Korea. Old Trafford is the venue for each team's final Group G game - in a match that has absolutely no potential whatsoever to become a major diplomatic incident.

The US, of course, have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament, thanks to the seven unanswered goals they've scored since a nightmare opening 15 minutes against France in their opening game. Colombia were dispatched 3-0 in the second match to ensure safe passage to the next round, but today will reveal just who they'll be up against in that next round, and the Americans will be anxious to have the boost of a 100% record and a favorable draw/venue going forward. Meanwhile the North Koreans need a positive result if they're to be in with a chance of making the quarter finals themselves.

I'll be back shortly with more build-up and team news, but in the meantime you can catch up with the earlier US games by checking out the links above, or if you enjoy words failing you, you can watch this thoroughly dignified rendition of Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA"...